Burnie man hurt as roof ripped off

By
HOLLY MONERY

ONE person was taken to hospital last night after heavy winds lifted the roof from a building at Round Hill.

ONE person was taken to hospital last night after heavy winds lifted the roof from a building at Round Hill.

Inspector Kim Stevens, who was on the scene at Round Hill, said the 68-year-old man was working in his workshop about 5.45pm when he sustained minor injuries. He was taken to hospital as a precaution.

Urban Search and Rescue teams checked the buildings last night to ensure no other people were inside, with the aim to secure them against the weather to be reassessed this morning.

‘‘We’ve lost probably three roofs from the buildings we can see, there’s a lot of damage where it has come through,’’ Inspector Stevens said.

BLOWN AWAY: Emergency personnel and Aurora technicians at Round Hill, Burnie, last night after several buildings were damaged by winds. Picture: Meg Windram.

Flying debris brought down powerlines in the Round Hill area last night.

Power outages affected many across the Coast last night and motorists were advised by police to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary,

Roofs were also blown off in Wiena Crescent in Miandetta and the roof of the Turners Beach Bowls Club was smashed in.

It was also reported last night that the Marrawah Tavern had been struck by lightning, damaging it and a house next door.

At least two car accidents also occurred last night during the storm.

The first, a single vehicle on the Bass Highway near the Main Street overpass at Ulverstone, which caused damage to fencing, but no injuries.

The second was near the William and Tasman Street intersection in Devonport, at time of writing no more information is known.

Additionally, police confirmed that power lines and fallen trees had blocked roads in Leith, Don, East Devonport and Turners Beach.

Reports from The Advocate’s Facebook page last night indicate the incidents of damage are numerous, with rubbish littering streets across the Coast, airborne trampolines, and damaged vehicles, including a caravan.